Here’s what I brought to WBRC Fox 6 on December 4. These books are as much fun to give as to receive.
You Asked for It!: My Clients’ Favorite Recipes
Rosalyn Bloomston has been cooking and catering and delighting her clients for more than three decades. 
Now, this Birmingham author shares her most-requested recipes with all of us. This spiral-bound book features foods such as blue cheese puffs, stuffed French toast, orzo salad with shrimp and feta, Moroccan couscous, cranberry chutney, she-crab soup, corn custard pudding, chicken supreme with balsamic vinegar and shallot sauce and Roz’s signature fudge cake. She says she “fell into catering quite by accident, and continued on by the ‘seat of my pants’ for 34 years without any training!” She’s done the homework on these recipes though; they are tried and true. Go to https://youaskedforitcookbook.comto get the book and see some sample recipes. It’s also available at Amazon. Also, Roz is a member of the Birmingham chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International. The philanthropic organization is having its annual Holiday gift ideas and giveaway right now on social media. Go to https://www.facebook.com/ldeibirmingham/and enter to win.
Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man’s First Journey to the Moon
This true story of American heroes, written by Robert Kurson, is a great gift for a history buff or anyone, really, who loves a real and riveting read. 
The bestselling author of Shadow Divers writes compelling about the first time humans ever left Earth for another destination. On Christmas Eve in 1968, three brave men orbited the moon and, for a little while, a country that was deeply divided became united in awe of that accomplishment. The launch was sudden and without the usual methodical timeline, and that, of course, made it all the more risky. The book is drawn from hundreds of hours of one-on-one interviews with the astronauts, their families, NASA personal and dozens of scientists. A handful of photos in the middle of the book help tell the story. And even if you already know that story, this book makes it feel exciting and immediate.
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
“The ultimate source of happiness is within us,” says His Holiness The Dalai Lama. “We grow in kindness when our kindness is tested,” says Archbishop Desmond Tutu. 
Both these statements sum up this extraordinary (and timely) book by two incredible world leaders. Both men survived decades of exile and oppression, yet they are two of the most joyful people on this planet. This book grew from a trip in spring of 2015 when Archbishop Tutu traveled to the Dalai Lama’s home in India to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday and create a gift for the world, with the help of Douglas Abrams. They traded personal stories, teased each other quite a bit and shared their spiritual practices. By the end of the week, they had come up with a way to share the joy they felt. They explored the Nature of Joy and talked about the Obstacles to Joy and, in this book, they offer us the Eight Pillars of Joy, which are a usable foundation for lasting happiness.
Best Friends in the Universe by Hector and Louie
Hector and Louie are best friends, and they do everything together—they dance, they joke, they share the same odd name for their fishes (Python). 
So they decide to create a book (with the help of Stephanie Watson) to celebrate their awesome friendship. But when a secret is inadvertently revealed, that friendship is tested. Can a do-over save the day and the friendship? This funny, energetic book with fantastic illustrations (digitally enhanced pencil and crayon) by LeUyen Pham, is a great lesson on the true meaning of real and lasting friendship.
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